Splitting and cheeking machine for the treatment of skins



p 16,.1930. B. A. L. BORIONE 1,775,666

SPLITTING AND CHEEKING MACHINE FOR THE TREATMENT OF SKINS Filed Feb. 7, 1925 H- b. B 23 5 :08 w M/M ml/Z] 6/7 fiol ZZEZL'ZAJ/ o O *0 O Q A g! o 0 O 0 HI? N 20 21 -15 Y9 A milz f 12.21. worzg w ill Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE "BERNARD ANTOINE LAURENT BOBIONE, OF ANNONAY, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO TURNER TANNING MACHINERY (10., OF PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS SPLITTING AND CHEEKING MACHINE FOR THE TREATMENT OF SKINS Application filed February 7 1925, Serial No. 7,616, and in France February 16, 1924.

This invention relates to cutting machines for use in cutting operations upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of Work, and is illustrated as embodied in a machine for remOVillg excess material from un-- substantially the same thickness throughout.

While it has heretofore been proposed to split off a portion of the thickened neck and head portions of the hide or skin by means of several ofthe well known types of splitting machines, so far as applicant is aware the machines utilized for performing this operation are not satisfactory from the standpoint of'either the quality orthe quantity of the product obtained.

It is an object of applicants invention to provide for the purpose of checking hides and skins a machine which will be efficient in oporation, simple and durable in construction,

and of greater capacity than any machine -heretofore employed for the purpose.

To these ends and in accordance with important features of the invention there is throughout, the said work receiving and supgorting means while in work-receiving position being spaced a substantialdistance ;.therewith a work feeding means mounted to v fromthe cutting means to facilitate introduction of the work, and having associated more with the work supporting means to work receiving position so that a piece of work may be introduced simply by throwing the part to be checked over the work feeding and supporting means which subsequently move together to work presenting position wherein both the work supporting means and the work feeding means become operative, one to support the work and'back it during the operation of the cutting means and the other to feed the work past the said means. 'By this arrangement only that part of the work which needs to be reduced in thickness is introduced into the machine, and that with a degree of facility not heretofore provided for. Since the part to be checked is of relatively small area it is ,quicklyfed out of the machine during'the cutting operation, thus reducing to a minimum the length of time required for each operation. In the preferred construction means is provided for .co-opeia tion with the movable work-supporting means to spread the work prior to the operation of the cutting means and to hold it against sidewise movement during operation ,of the reciprocable cutting means, the said spreading means, in the construction shown, being stationarily but yieldingly mounted to be selfadjusting to the. work while the latteris backed by the work-supporting means.

The said invention is clearly set forth'in the following description referring to the appended drawing which is given by way of example and in which 1.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section on the line AA of Fig. 2 of'a splitting machine illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the rear part of the illustrated machine, i. e. opposite the part atwhich the workman is stationed.

Fig. 3 is a view on a larger scale of a portion of Fig. 1 showing the skin under treatment; I

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section on a larger scale ta on along the line BB' of Fi 3; and

ig. 5 is a plan View from above and partly in section illustrating means for adjusting the work support with respect to the cutting blade.

The machine frame illustrated in 'thedrawand the guide 13.

longitudinal grooves or flutings; said ,cylin-- der is movable in vertical guldes formed In,

the said uprights and is held in place by adjustable springs 4. A second cylinder 5 which is covered with an india rubber covering 5 is mounted at the ends between two A pivoted levers 6 and 7, the position of which may be controlled either directly or by an auxiliary rod 8, so as to move the cylinder 5 towards or from the cylinder 3. The latter cylinder is given a slow and continuous rotation by means ofthe pinion 9; shaft of the cylinder 5 is also keyed the pin ion 10, and when the two cylinders are in proXimity,the said pinion 10 engages a pinion 11 similar to the pinion 10 and which is keyed to the shaft of the cylinder 3. When the cylinders are in the position shown in the drawing, they will rotate simultaneously at the same speed and in contrary directions shown by the arrows, Fig. 3.

The pivoted levers 6 and 7 are connected together immediately below the india rubber covered cylinder 5 by means of the cross piece 12 having secured theretoia metal ruler or guide 13 which isaccurately planish'ed and has rounded edges as shown. Clearly the xlevers 6 and 7 with the cross piece 12 constitute a movable supportfor the cylinder 5 The pivoting movement of the levers 6 and 7 carrying the cylinder 5 and the work support orruler 13, in. the forward direction, (i; e. as shown in Fig. 1 the movement of said cylinder and ruler from left to right), is limited by two step screws 30, arranged to be simultaneously adjusted as will be hereinafter described.

Thesplitt ng devlce further comprises a cast iron or steel support 1e having the form .of an angle piece whereby suficient rigidity will be obtained. The said support carries the cutting blade 15 which serves for the splitting of the skins, and the said blade is given a very rapid but limited reciprocating motion by means of aro'd .16.which is pivoted' at one end to the middle part of the said support and. at the other end to the crank 17 secured to a small shaft '18 which is mounted in one of the lateral uprights.

The machine further comprises 'a set of keys secured "to a square shaft 19 whose screwthreaded ends extend through corresponding. holes in the lateral frames or uprights; said shaft may be adjustedand then secured in position by means of the nuts 20 and 21 (Fig. a bearing againstthe said uprights. The "said keys are mounted upon flat ings comprises two lateral uprights or supto the spring strips 22 which can bend separately in vertical planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the machine, but they have no movement in the lateral direction since they would then work edgewise.

The heads of the said keys consist of small steel blocks 23 with rounded angles; on the faces of the keys situated opposite to the crosspiece 12 are formed series of line grooves which are slightly inclined from the vertical, and on the right hand half of the set of keys the grooves are inclined in one direction and on the left hand half of the set of keys in the contrary direction, as shown in Fig. 4:, so that when the skin, shown at as, Fig. 3, moves forward in frictional contact with the said keys it will be smoothed and spread out to the right and left.

The operation is as follows:

The india rubber covered cylinder 5 having been drawn to the rear (position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1), the skin is alaced with'the rain side downward u on the said cylinderand upon the guiding ruler 13, the iart of the skin which is to be split being allowed to hang below. The said cylinder is brought near the grooved entraining cylinder and the cutting blade 15. The skin'is drawn back, but is at the same time held between the said ruler and the set of keys,and the cutting'blade performs the splitting action while the'skin ascends as it is drawn back. he pressure of the said keys upon the skin is suitably regulated by the tension which is given at will to the spring strips upon which they are mounted. Due to the friction upon the said keys, the skin will be stretched upon the said ruler; the oblique grooves will spread out the skin while maintaining it in the proper position below the blade 15 and holding it against all tendency to lateral movement due to the 'reciprocating motion of the blade.

' The skin which has been split to the proper "llhlClIIlQSS ISTQCQlVGClbY the workman when issuing from these two cylinders, whilst the portion of the skin on the flesh side which has an irregular thickness, proceedsto the rear of the said keys and 1s dropped upon the floor;

- ment of the work support or ruler 13 toward.

the cutting blade 15 are arranged to be simultaneously adjustable by means which will now be described. "Referring to Fig. 5 of the drawings, it will be observed that the machine frame members 1 and 2 are provided each with a bracket 32, to actfas stops against which the screws 30 will abut in determining the operative position of the work support or ruler 13. Preferably, and as shown, each stop screw 30 is supported by a sleeve 34 secured to the corresponding lever 6 or 7. Fixed to each screw 30 is a bevel gear 36 arranged L0 be in mesh with a corresponding bevel gear 38 secured to a shaft 40 carried by a supporting bar 42 having right angled portions la in which the shaft 40 is journaled. Secured to the end of the shaft 40 is a hand wheel io" upon propermanipulation of which thestop screws 30 may be simultaneously adjusted toward and from their respective bracket stops 32. Conveniently, the left hand bevel gear 38 is mounted to rotate with the shaft 40 but is slidable thereon so that it may be moved to the right in Fig. 5 upon loosening the screw 48 so that the screw 30 may be independently adjusted. While the screw 30 is thus freed from control by the bevel gear 38 the other set screw 30 may be independently adjusted by turning the hand wheel Hence, after both set screws have been adjusted in the setting up of the machine, only simultaneous movement of the screws 30 will be necessary to secure proper relation between the work support or ruler. 13 and the blade 15 to adapt the machine to the splitting of various classes of work.

Where the upper ends of the levers 6 and 7 are to come against abutments and to be adjusted with respect to said abutments by means of set screws, such as the stop screws 30, it is necessary that the levers 6 and 7 be yieldingly actuated, Hence, the auxiliary rod 8 each side of the machine is provided with a collar 50, and a spring 52 surrounding the rod. At its other end the spring 52 abuts against a face on the end of a link 54 which 'is pivoted'to the lower end of the lever 6 or 7, in accordance with a well-known construction disclosed, for example, in United States Letters Patent N 0. 992,049, granted May 9, 1911, to F. J. Perkins. It will be clear from an inspection of Fig. 1 of the drawings that the auXi iary rod 8, pivoted eccentrically on a disk 56 carried by a shaft 58 and slidably engaged with the end of the link 5 f, operates through the spring 52 to press the upperends of the levers 6' and 7 to the right in said figure, thus carrying the work support or ruler 13 into the desired position with respect to the cutting bed'15, the levers 6 and 7 carrying the stop screws 30 being firmly but yieldingly forced into the position determined by adjustment of the stop screws30.

Obviously, the said invention is not limited to the constructional forms herein represented which are given solely by way of example and aresusceptible of various modifications without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a skin splitting machine, the comblade, a guide bar for the skin carrier bination of a frame, means for drawing and stretching a skin, a cutting blade slidably sup- .ported by said frame, means for imparting a rapid reciprocating motion to said blade, a guide for the skin having a plane surface parallel and near to the cutting edge of said blade and movable in directions toward and from the blade, and means for holding the skin against said surface.

2. In a skin splitting machine, the combination of a frame, means fordrawing and stretching the skin, a cutting blade slidably supported by said frame, means for imparting a rapid reciprocating motion to said blade, a guide bar for the skin parallel and near to the cutting edge of said blade and adapted to be rocked with respect to said frame, means for adjusting the position of said guide bar with respect to said blade, and means for holding the skin against said guide bar.

3. In a skin splitting machine, the combination of a frame, means for drawing and stretching the skin, a cutting blade slidabiy supported by said frame, means for imparting a rapid reciprocating motion to said blade. a guide bar for the skin parallel and near to the cutting edge of said blade and adapted to be rocked with respect to said frame, stop screws carried by said guide bar and adapted to bear against said frame whereby the distance between said guide bar and said blade is adjustable, and mea: for holding the skin against said guide bar.

4. In a skin splitting machine, the com-- bination of a frame, a driving cylinder rotatably supported by said frame, a support p-ivotally supported by said frame, a driven cylinder carried by said support and adapt ed to cooperate with said driving eylin :r for stretching the skin, a cutting blade Sl1lably supported by said frame, means for iir parting a rapid reciprocating motion to support in parallel relation and HQ? cutting edge of said blade, means for justing the position of said support and gu bar with respect to said blade, and me ns holding the skin against said guide 5. In a skin splitting mach' bination of a frame, means for 'awi stretching the skin, a cutting blade slicab supported by said frame, means for im a rapid reciprocating motion to blade, a guide bar for the skin parallel near to the cutting edge of said blade a 1 adapted to be rocked with respect to said frame, means for adjusting the position of said guide bar with respect to s d bla' and a set of keys yieldingly moun said frame and adapted to hold his skzn against said guide bar.

6. In a skin splitting machine, the com-- bination of a frame, means for drawing and stretching the skin, a cutting blade slicably supported by said frame, means for imparting a rapid reciprocating motion to said blade, a guide bar for the skin parallel and near to the cutting edge of said blade, means for adjusting the positionof said guide bar With respect to said blade, and a set of keys yieldingly mounted upon said frame and adapted to hold the skin against said guide bar, the skin contacting face of the keys situated on one side of-the middle plane of the set bing provided With grooves inclined in one direction Whilst the skin-contacting face of the keys situated on toe other side of said plane is provided with grooves incline-cl in the contrary direction, these directions be ing such as to cause the skin to be spreadout and smoothed upon said guide bar.

7. In a skin splitting machine, the combination of a frame, means for drawi and stretching the skin, a cutting blade s idably supported by said frame, means for imparting a rapid reciprocating motion to said blade, a guide bar for the skinpai 'aliel and near to the cutting edge of said blade, means for adjusting the position of said guide bar With respect to said blade a set of keys respectively carried at one end of spring strips and adapted to hold the skin against said guide bar, and a cross member adjustably sup ported by said frame and upon which the other ends of said spring strips are secured.

8. In a machine of the character described, cutting means comprising a cutter arranged for movement in a vertical plane and having a drawing cut, and Work supporting means bodily movable between Work receiving and Work presenting positions to receive a piece of Work and subsequently to guide and back it during the operation of the cutting means.

9. In a machine for splitting elf excess terial from undesirably thick portions of. a piece of Work, cutting means, and a Work support booily movable between Work receiving and ork presenting positions and having a surface stationary'in the Work presenting position of the work support'and operative to back a piece of Work While it is being split by the cutting means. i.

10. In a machine of th character described, a reciprocable cutter for performingspilt ting operations on a piece of Work, m ans movable from work receiving to presenting position for (Jo-operation Witn the cutter in holdin the piece of Work in proper relation thereto, and means for fee piece of Work to the reciprocable c1. '11. In a machine of thecharacter desci a cutter arranged for movement in plane for'performing splitting operations p on a piece of work, meansmovable from "1 toward the cutter for receiving apiece of Work and for presenting 1t to. the cutter, and a member co-operating with said means for feed ng the Work past the cutter.

12. In a machixe of the characterdes'cribed,

a cutter for performing splitting operations on a piece of Work, means movable bodily from and toward the cutter for receiving a piece of Work and for presenting it to the cutter, and a member movable With said means for feeding the Work past the cutter. In machine for checking hi es and er, means for feeding a: hide or p the cutter during cutting operations, said means comprising a feeding roll movable away from the cutterto permit the hide or skin to be d t ereWith and subsequently toward the cure r in position to feed the hide or skin past the cut er, and a member movable with the feeding roll and operative to support c 'l skin oppo site to the cutting edge 7 in a machine for n skis or other similar pieces of vork, a knife for performing cutting operations on a piece of ork, movable sup ort, a feed roll for rading the Work a support for the Work o 3h mounted on the movable support, and moms for pressing the Work against the work-support to hold and spread the Work during the operation of the knife.

l5. in machine for checking hides and skin or other similar pieces of work a knife port for the work bodily mov- Work-receiving Work-prepositions and having flat surface opposite the knife for backing the work and means l acent to the knife for pressingthe met the flat surface on the support to'hoiu the work during the operation of the knife. 7 r

'16. in a machine for cheeking hides or r similar pieces of Work, a reciprocating for performing cutting operations on p e of worl:,a feeding member and a support for the piece of work movable toi -r-betvveen Work-receiving p sition and presenting position With respect to the Work-support for spreading the Work r to th operation of the knife.

machine of the char ccter do i reciprocable knifefor performing g operations on a piece of Work, a supporting member for the "WOTl; l L determii relationivithrespect to the knife and away from the knife to permit introduction of' the work between the knife and he sup 1 member, means for the or movements of the piece oi Work during recip- 1. i. .n W tie operation or the knii L c. E, J- N A machine ioi cueeliing hides and locations of the knife, and means for feedg the Work over the ivorksupportni memoer during other similar pieces of work, a reci'orocable I v knife for perrorming cutting operations on apiece of worlna member for supporting performing cutting operations on a piecefe, and spring members co-operating with V net the work-support n ember opera i eto prevent sidewvise the work in predetermined relation to the knife, means for feeding the work over the surface of the work-supporting member during operation of the knife, said means com- 5 prising a feed roll mounted to move with the work-supporting member, the work-supporting member and the feed roll being movable into and out of work-receiving position, and means for pressing the work against the worksupporting member and to spread it laterally prior to the operation of the knife and, to prevent sidewise movements of the piece of work during reciprocation of the knife.

19. In a machine for checking hides and other similar pieces of work, a reciprocable knife for performing a splitting operation on a piece of work, a member movable toward and from the plane of the knife to receive the work while in widely spaced relation to the knife and to present the work in predetermined relation to the knife for the operation of the latter, and spring members cooperating with the member to press the work thereagainst and to prevent sidewise movements of the piece of work during reciprocation of the knife.

20. In a machine for checking hides and other similar pieces of work, a knife for performing a splitting operation on a piece of work, a member movable toward and from the plane of the knife to receive'the work while in widely spaced relation to the knife and to present the work in predetermined a5 relation to the knife for the operation of the latter, spring members co-operating with the member to press the work thereagainst and to spread the work prior to the operation of the knife, and a feed roll movable with said 40 member for feeding the work during the operation of the knife.

21. In a machine for checking hides and other similar pieces of work, cutting means for operating on a piece of work, a work support movable between work receiving and work presenting positions, said work support comprising a feed roll and a work guiding member, the work guiding member serving to back the work opposite to the cutting edge of the cutting means during a cutting operation, and a feeding member stationary in space and arranged to co-operate with the feed roll on the work support for v feeding the work past the cutting means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

BERNARD ANTOINE LAURENT BORIONE [L. 5.]

CERTIFIGATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,775, 666. Granted September 16, 1930, to

BERNARD ANTGINE LAURENT BORIONE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring cerrection as follows: Page 4, line 67, eiaim 12, strike eat the word "hedily" and insert the same after the ward "movable" in line 70; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day at March, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Cernmissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,775, 666. Granted September 16, 1930, to

BERNARD ANTUINE LAURENT BORIONE.

' it is hereby certified that error apyears in the printed specifieatiom of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 67, claim 12, strike out the word "bodily" and insert the same after the word "movable" in line 70; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of March, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

